HIGH PERFORMANCE COPPER PRODUCTS
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HIGH PERFORMANCE COPPER PRODUCTS
Mueller Industries has tested and
validated its Streamline® copper tube and
copper fittings for an operating pressure
of 700PSI. The following information will
give an insight on the testing and
qualifications of Streamline ® products.
OVERVIEW:
As the industry rapidly changes and evolves with more efficient
products, so must the standards, specifications and design equations Operating Pressure @ 150°F
for copper systems. The gradual phase-out of refrigerants harmful to
the environment has ushered in newer, more efficient systems which
operate at higher pressures. It is important not only to be cost
effective but also to provide a safe environment for the public.
DESIGN FORMULAS:THEN AND NOW
Common equations used to calculate Operating & Burst Pressures:
Current ASME & ASTM equations for calculating
Current Pressure Formula
operating & burst pressures for copper tube and
2TS
fittings are primarily driven by an allowable
stress based on a proportional limit (strain
P= D – 0.8T
Where:
moves proportionally to the applied stress) and P = Burst Pressure D = Outside Diameter
T = Wall Thickness S = Tensile Strength
wall thickness of the tube or fitting.
80 Years of the Industry’s
• The problem with using a proportional limit to • Another problem with using an ill-defined allowable
Finest Products. And Counting.
designate an allowable stress for copper is stress and a wall thickness as the strength
Mueller Industries’ Streamline® brand
that copper, unlike steel, does not have a drivers is that they do not account for the robust
changed the piping world forever
proportional limit. Therefore any attempt to quality of strain hardening that copper possesses
back in 1930 with the invention of the
generate an allowable stress using some (as stress goes up copper strain hardens allowing
first solder joint copper fitting. That
% offset is misleading and inaccurate. for greater stress to be applied). introduction launched Streamline into
a position of leadership that we've
• The problem with assuming wall thickness is • A competent manufacturer of tube and fittings
maintained for over 80 years through
directly proportional to the operating and burst knows the processing characteristics and their
continuous in-line product improvements,
pressure of a copper tube or fitting is that it totally impact on strength. Further a competent new product introductions, and a well-
ignores the grain size and grain cleanliness of manufacturer can demonstrate through a program earned reputation for technological
the cast and hard drawn tube. In fact, the grain of laboratory and appropriate mathematical innovation, superior product quality,
condition can have a greater impact on material analysis, the actual operating and burst pressure. and customer service after the sale.
strength than the wall thickness.
3
SUPERIOR MATERIAL
Proven Durability & Reliability
Copper piping systems have proven to be durable
and reliable for over 80 years.
Workability In Annealed State Anti-Microbial Properties
The workability of soft or annealed copper allows it Engineers have begun to leverage the unique ability of copper
to be run, without joints, through the building spaces to fight the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew. The copper
where other materials would be difficult to use. alloys used to make products made to ASTM B280 and ASME
B16.22 are registered with the U.S. EPA as antimicrobial.
Corrosion Resistance
Corrosion resistance is valuable in critical cooling Broad working Temperature Range
and refrigeration applications. Suitable for applications from -300°F to +400°F.
NOTHING ELSE COMPARES
Strong Brazed Joints
The process of joining copper in the field is easier, more
Heat Transfer Comparison
efficient, and more reliable than with other materials. Stainless Steel and Aluminum vs. Copper
Superior Heat Transfer Coefficient
Stainless Steel (SS) 25 W/mK
Aluminum (Al) 237 W/mK
Copper (Cu) 398 W/mK
Ability To Make Field Repairs & Modifications
Welding stainless steel requires a high level of skill and is
highly labor intensive. Aluminum has a low melting temperature,
making it impractical to join or repair in the field.
4 © 2012 MUELLER STREAMLINE CO.
SUPERIOR SCIENCE
Copper Tube and Fittings The tensile test...a classic test of material strength. A flat piece of metal in the rough shape of a dog
bone is pulled from opposing ends with sufficient force to deform the material. That measurable force applied to the material is the
STRESS. The material’s response to this stress is a measurable deformation, known as STRAIN.
Hoop Strain Pulling on a dog bone in the longitudinal direction does not mimic the
Hoop Strain
force applied by pressurization within a pipe. Internal pressure exerts its force to the
entire circumference of the tube, which is known as hoop stress. The response of
copper tubing to this stress is known as hoop strain.
DID YOU KNOW? The only time copper tube
will fluctuate in length (S1 ) is during expansion
and contraction due to temperature. The only time
copper tube will fluctuate in diameter (S2) is during
expansion due to pressure.
Work Hardening When copper stretches or strains Annealed Copper Annealed Temperatures
(the deformation due to stress) the grain structure is Copper begins to anneal
reoriented and made stronger by work hardening. As more at 700°F and becomes
stress is applied, up to a point, copper simply gets stronger. “softer” with increasing time
and temperature. Since the
HVAC/R industry joins copper
by brazing pieces together
between 1,150°F to 1,550°F,
all HVAC/R systems are
0.070-mm Average Grain Size 0.055-mm Average Grain Size considered to be annealed.
What Your Eyes Can’t See: A smaller, tighter grain structure can result
in greatly improved performance. In these (copper tube) samples, viewed
at 100x magnification, the one on the right outperforms by over 20%.
5
SUPERIOR PROCESSES
Only Mueller Industries’ Streamline® copper products are made in the USA with the proprietary technologies of DuraGrain™ and
TrueCenter.™ These industry leading processes provide for more consistent and higher performing copper products and are a few of
the many reasons Streamline® copper products are better than the rest.
High Grain Density Copper for Superior Metallurgy
DuraGrain™ is Mueller Industries’ proprietary copper, which is carefully refined in our own
furnaces to achieve a denser, stronger grain structure with 99.9% copper purity. Whether
refined from virgin copper cathode or carefully screened, post-consumer recycled copper, we
use advanced metallurgical and spectrum analysis protocols to produce the highest-quality
copper in the industry. The more uniform and durable properties of Mueller’s DuraGrain™ copper
contribute significantly to the superior performance of Streamline copper tube, line sets and fittings.
• Raw copper is refined to a purity of 99.9%
• Advanced metallurgy results
in an optimum grain structure
• Continuous testing for quality
and consistency
DURAGRAIN ™
• Made in the U.S.A.
Precision Extrusion for Consistently Uniform Walls
TrueCenter™ is Mueller Industries’ patented, laser-directed precision extrusion process.
Developed by Mueller Industries to extrude copper tube with exceptionally uniform wall
thickness, TrueCenter™ ensures that Streamline copper tube, line sets and fittings are
highly concentric – so each finished product has consistently strong walls without thin/weak
spots that could result in a field failure.
• Patented laser-guided system
• Promotes uniform wall thickness
• Assures uniform grain consistency
• Made in the U.S.A.
6 © 2012 MUELLER STREAMLINE CO.
ENGINEERED TESTING FOR VALIDATION
Each test served a specific purpose but it is the collective result that provides the ultimate confidence in the strength
of copper. Streamline® Nitrogenized ACR tube and copper fittings were used for all assemblies.
Hoop Strain Test proved expansion predictability when Streamline
copper tube and fittings are exposed to increasing pressures and temperatures.
1ST TEST ASSEMBLY AT 69°F
• Pressurized to 635psi for 10 minutes
• Measure change in diameter & length
• Repeat at 800 psi, 1000 psi, and 1500psi
2ND TEST ASSEMBLY AT 180°F
3RD TEST ASSEMBLY AT 250°F
RESULTS: All measurable strain was in hoop.
Cyclic Fatigue Test verified the strength of Streamline copper
tube and fittings for over 250,000 cycles; along with testing the
superior work hardening capabilities of the copper assemblies.
700 PSI @ 68°F AND 180°F WITH 4-SECOND CYCLES
RESULTS: Tube diameter change is always higher than fittings.
Temperature has minimal impact. Grain structure has significant impact.
Calculated Burst vs. Actual Burst demonstrated that Streamline
copper tube and fittings significantly outperform current standards and
design equations, allowing select Streamline products be rated to 700 PSI.
STANDARD ACR TUBE TAKEN TO FAILURE (BURST) AT 68°F
RESULTS: Actual burst pressure for tube and fittings significantly
out-performed current ASME formulas used to calculate burst pressures.
Thermal Cycling: Life Acceleration Test confirmed the
reliability of Streamline copper tube and fittings when utilized in an
R-410a refrigeration system under accelerated, long-term conditions.
TYPICAL R-410a HEAT PUMP UTILIZED WITH AN ASSEMBLY
PLACED IN CONTINUOUS LOOP FORCED TO 180°F
RESULTS: The assembly ran for over 25,000 cycles.
All tube and fitting expansion stabilized after 20 cycles
7
ANOTHER REFRIGERATION INDUSTRY FIRST:
UL RECOGNIZED COPPER TUBE AND FITTINGS
Mueller Streamline Co. is now able to offer the first refrigeration copper tube and fittings UL Recognized to 700PSI in select sizes.
In order to provide the highest level of assurance to our customers that these products continue to meet the higher pressure
demands of these modern refrigerants, we have taken the additional step of implementing third-party verification – through
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) – of the extensive testing procedures. The testing and third-party certification validates performance
of these products up to operating pressures of 700psi at 250°F.
STREAMLINE COPPER FITTINGS VS. OTHERS
8 © 2012 MUELLER STREAMLINE CO.
PUT THE SUPERIOR QUALITY OF
STREAMLINE® TO WORK FOR YOU
Low Pressure Applications Streamline® copper tubing is available with a thinner wall, known as Type M, which is commonly
used in plumbing systems. While unsuitable for refrigerant-bearing applications, Type M tube is a good choice for low pressure,
secondary cooling loops.
High Pressure Applications You don’t need heavier walls…you need higher quality. Some manufacturers would lead you to
believe that heavy-wall copper tube and fittings are required for R-410a and subcritical CO2 systems. With their products, this may be
true. However, with Streamline® copper tube and fittings, the products that have been used and trusted for over 75 years are still
suitable. Per the chart below, the industry standard Streamline ACR tube (Type L) is UL Recognized to 700psi through 1-3/8”.
Streamline® wrot copper fittings are formed from our own tube, providing quality control throughout the process. The thickness of
these fittings is highly correlated to ACR tube (Type L). The process of shaping this tube into fittings imparts additional work hardening
on the copper. As a result, fittings of similar wall are consistently stronger than the tube they are made from. Wrot copper fittings
manufactured by Mueller Streamline Co are rated to 700psi through 2-5/8”.
High Demand Applications For especially demanding applications where larger tube diameters are required, the solution
is simple. Streamline® ACR – Type K is a heavy wall copper tube that goes through a five-step cleaning process before being
nitrogen charged and plugged. This product is available with limited lead-time and is rated to 700psi through 2-5/8” OD.
STREAMLINE COPPER 700 PSI RATING
700 PSI Rating at Operational Temperature of 250°F.
9
STREAMLINE PRODUCTS
Streamline ® Wrot Copper Pressure Fittings
All Streamline® fittings are formed to exacting tolerances using blanks we make
ourselves from our own manufactured copper tube. From our DuraGrain™ copper,
to our TrueCenter™ precision-extrusion process, to our sophisticated push-form
manufacturing processes, to our smart-vision inspection systems – and right down to
the piece by piece hand inspections – we take every step possible to ensure that
each Streamline fitting will exceed your expectations.
• Made from DuraGrain™ Copper – a Mueller Industries Exclusive
• Formed from Precision Extruded Streamline® Copper Tube
• Made to ASME Standard B16.22
• NSF Certified
• UL Recognized 700 PSI Rating (select sizes)
• Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Streamline ® Copper Tube
Our Streamline® brand has set the standard of excellence for over 80 years. We
take pride in maintaining our leadership position as the best manufacturer of
quality copper tube in the world, and we work hard through research, development
and testing to guarantee that the Streamline copper tube you buy will always be
the highest quality obtainable.
• Engineered and Tested for R-410A and CO2
• Made from DuraGrain™ Copper – a Mueller Industries Exclusive
• Precision Extruded using TrueCenter™ Laser
Technology – a Mueller Industries Exclusive
• Made to ASTM Standard B-88, B-306, B-280, B-819
• NSF Certified
• UL Recognized 700 PSI Rating (Refrigeration Tube in select sizes)
• Manufactured in the U.S.A.
10 © 2012 MUELLER STREAMLINE CO.Streamline ® Line Sets and Mini Splits
We leverage our 80 years of experience and expertise in copper tube
manufacturing in every line set we make. From standard liquid lines and suction
lines to unique insulation applications and packaging, every line set meets
rigorous standards for quality and consistency, so our customers can be
confident they’re using the best line set on the market.
• UL Recognized at 700 PSI MWP
• R410A Engineered & Tested
• Insulation meets ASTM C-534 & UL 25-50 Fire & Smoke Rating
• Integrated production processes eliminate kinking and
work-hardening associated with other line sets
• Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Streamline Refrigeration Valves & Protection Devices
Mueller Streamline® is a leader in the design and manufacturing of HVAC/R valves
and protection devices – including filter driers, sight glasses, and strainers. These
products are trusted and respected worldwide for providing optimum
system performance and enhanced serviceability. Incorporating many proprietary
technologies and the latest industry innovations and performance features,
Streamline® HVAC/R valves are compatible with the newest refrigerants and oils –
and deliver flawless operation over a wide range of operating temperatures.
• UL/cUL Recognized, CE Certified, and RoHS Compliant
• Compatible with all CFC, HCFC and HFC refrigerants and oils
• Working pressure ratings up to 700 psig (48 bar)
11QUALITY COPPER PRODUCTS FOR TODAY’S NEEDS
8285 Tournament Drive, Suite 150 • Memphis, TN 38125 • www.muellerindustries.com
1-800-846-9750 • www.streamlinecopperquality.com
© 2012 Mueller Streamline Co. | MLT-218You can also read
